New Intern Has Deep Roots in Rice Industry

ARLINGTON, VA – Caroline Hardy has joined the USA Rice team as a government affairs intern and will be working out of the Arlington office until she begins a law clerkship in Louisiana later this summer.  A Louisiana native, Caroline earned her B.S. from McNeese State University in agribusiness in 2021 and is entering her final year at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Paul M. Hebert Law Center.

Originally from Lacassine, Caroline has an extensive background in agriculture leadership and a deep appreciation of the rice industry thanks to her late grandfather, Ralph Hardy, who farmed forty-nine growing seasons in southwest Louisiana.

Caroline has served in multiple capacities that have allowed her to advocate for agriculture including being selected as the 2017-2018 Louisiana FFA State Secretary, 2018 Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen, and the 84th International Rice Festival Queen.
 
“I can attest to the fact that rice is in Caroline’s blood as I know her family well,” said USA Rice’s Dr. Steve Linscombe, director of The Rice Foundation.  “Early in my career at the LSU AgCenter, I worked with Caroline’s grandfather, Ralph Hardy, conducting experiments on his farm in Iowa, Louisiana.  It’s encouraging to see Caroline carry on the tradition of giving back to our industry.  I have seen her advocacy skills in action and it’s impressive.”

Through this internship opportunity, Caroline hopes to expand her understanding of agriculture policy, and use her legal knowledge and background in agriculture to contribute to USA Rice efforts on Capitol Hill, as well with thorny legal promotion issues involving trademark law.